Tobacco-booking machine.



WILLIAM WADSWORTH, OF WIOHITA, KANSAS.

TOBACCO-BOOKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed March 1, 1907. Serial No. 360,019.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM VVADs- WORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Tobacco-Booking Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for booking tobacco leaves for cigar wrappers, and has for its principal object to provide a mechanism of simple construction by which the operator is enabled. to firmly clamp and hold the ends of the leaves, while smoothing and spreading the same, and in which leaf after leaf may be placed in position until a book of the desired thickness is formed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple form of pedal actuated mechanism so arranged that one end of each leaf may be firmly clamped in position at the end of the smoothing table or arch, while the operator is smoothing and spreading the body portion of the leaf, the second clamp being open for the introduction of the opposite end of the leaf after the smoothing operation is completed.

Vfith these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of a tobacco booking machine constructed in accordance with. the invention, parts being broken away in order to more fully illustrate the construction. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated at the arrows.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The working parts of the machine are supported on a suitable frame including a bed or table 10 and standards 11.

Secured to the central portion of the frame is a vertically disposed standard 15, the top of which is arranged to form an arch 16, and at the base of the arch are shoulders 17 that form the upper ends of recesses in which are arranged a pair of inner clamping jaws 18 and 19, the lower portions of which are reduced in width, and pass through guiding openings 20 formed in the table proper. The arched portion of the standard, and the outer clamping surfaces of the jaws 18 and 19 are covered by a strip of sheet metal 21, the ends of the strip of metal being secured to the lower portions of the jaws, and this metal strip is covered by a pad 22 formed of a textile or other material, which will retain moisture, for the purpose of dampening the tobacco leaves, so that the booking operation may be carried on without danger of breaking or crumbling the leaves.

Extending through the openings 20 formed in the table are the reduced lower ends of a pair of outer clamping aws 25 and 26, these being mounted on pivot pins 27 that extend through openings formed transversely of the table. These outer clamping jaws are provided with clamping surfaces co-extensive in area with the inner clamping jaws 18 and 19, and are normally held in clamping position by springs 28, the springs being secured to the upper surface of the table and having loop ends that bear against the outer faces of the outer jaws.

Extending longitudinally of the lower portion of the frame is a bar or shaft 30, on which are pivoted'two pedals 31 and 32, and from these pedals extend flexible straps, cords or chains 33, and 34, the strap 33 being guided over an antidrictibn roller 35 hung from the lower portion of the table, and the strap 34 being guided over a similar anti-friction roller 36.

The lower surface of the table is provided with brackets on which are pivoted two levers 40 and 41, one end of the lever 40 being connected to the strap 33, while the similar end of the lever 41 is connected to the strap 34. Extending from the forward end of the lever 40 are two rods or links 43 and 44, the rod 43 being connected to the aw 18, and the rod 44 being connected to the lower end of the jaw 25, so that when the pedal 31 is depressed, movement is transmitted through the strap and the lever 40 to both rods and the jaws 18 and 25 are moved in opposite directions to open position in order that one.

end of a tobacco leaf may be readily introduced between them. When pressure on the pedal is released, the jaw actuating spring 28 serves to move both jaws to closed position, in order to firmly hold the end of the'leaf.

In similar manner a pair of' rods or links 47, 48 extend from the forward end of the lever 41, the rod 47 being connected to the lower end of the jaw 19, and the rod 48 to the lower end of the jaw 26, so that when the pedal 32 is depressed, the jaws 19 and 26 may be moved to open position to receive the opposite end of the leaf after the smoothing and spreading operations.

In operation, the pedal 31 is depressed, moving the jaws 18 and in order that the end of a leaf may be introduced between them. The pressure on the pedal is then released, allowing the jaws to move to closed position and clamp the leaf. The operator then spreads and smooths a leaf over the arch, and on depressing the second pedal 32, the jaws 19 and 26 are opened to receive the opposite end of the leaf which has been treated. The pressure on the pedal 32 is then relieved, and the second set of clamping jaws is allowed to move to closed position. This op eration is repeated until a sufficient number of leaves have been smoothed out to form what is known as a book. The pedal is then depressed, releasing one end of the book, and the latter is then rolled by hand over the arch,-and the opposite end of the book is released, permitting the removal of the book for storage or use.

I claim 1. In a tobacco booking machine, a standard having recessed sides, the top of the standards being rounded to form a leaf smoothing arch, clamping jaws arranged in the recesses and having their clamping faces forming continuations of the smoothing surface, auxiliary jaws coacting with said clamping jaws, and means for actuating the jaws.

2. .In a tobacco booking machine, a standard having recessed sides and a rounded top forming a smoothing arch, clamping jaws disposed within the recesses and having their clamping surfaces forming continuations of the smoothing arch, a metal lining, and an absorbent pad covering the smoothing surface, and auxiliary jaws coacting with the clamping jaws in securing the leaves in place.

3. In a tobacco booking machine, a smoothing arch, a pair ,of pivoted clamping jaws at each side of the arch, pedal actuated levers arranged below the arch, and means for connecting one pair of jaws to one lever, and a second pair of jaws to the opposite le ver.

4. In a tobacco booking machine, a frame including a table having openings, a stand ard supported by the table and having its upper portion curvedto form a smoothing arch, the opposite sides of such standard being recessed, clamping j aws arranged in the recesses, a metallic cover extending around the arch and secured to the clamping jaws to form a hinge therefor, an absorbent pad covering the metal, a pair of pivoted clamping jaws, the lower end of which extend through the openings in the table, springs tending to move the jaws to clamping position, a pair of le vers pivoted beneath the table, one pair being connected to the lower portion of one jaw, and the opposite lever to the lower portion of the opposite jaw, a pair of jaw actuating levers, and flexible connections between the pedals and the levers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses:

WILLIAM WVADSWORTH. 

